Speculum



(No Model.)

J G. ELLIS.

' SPEGULUM. No. 326,856. Patented Sept. 22. 1885.

1 WITNESSES: NTOR: d2 01 W y M BY ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS. vnomuhe m ner, wa-hin um D. c.

UNrrnn STATES FFEQEO SPECULUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 326,856, dated September 22, 1885.

Application filed April 6, 1885. (N0 model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosnPH G. ELLIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Ridge, in the parish of Morehouse and State of Louisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speculums, of which the following is a description.

My invention is an improvement in speculums for vaginal and rectal use, and adapted to be Withdrawn through the chamber of the instrument.

The details of construction and combination of parts are hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section. Figs. 2 and 3 are crosssections on lines 00 x and y respectively, of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the several parts of the speculum detached, the body of the instrument being shown broken away.

The body A of the speculum is tapered and tubular, as shown. It is constructed with two lengthwise-closed slots, at and b, the former extending backward from near the point, and the other being located about midway of its length. The slot a is closed by a plate, 0,

having shoulders which abut corresponding ones formed by the ends of the slot, so that the plate cannot move endwise until released, as will be presently explained. The said plate 0 also fills the slot at flush with the periphery of the tube A, so that the latter presents the smooth and uniform surface required to enable the instrument to be intro duced with the least pain and injury to the patient. The plate 0 has a shank or rearward extension, 0, that projects beyond the mouth of the speculum proper, and is provided with a fastening device, d, in the form ofa pivoted catch, that engages a lip or flange, e, on the part A. By turning said catch (1 laterally it is disengaged from the flange 6, so that the plate 0 0 may be readily detached from the part A, thereby leaving the slot a open for the purpose of visual inspection of or surgical operation on the surrounding parts of the rectum or vagina.

The valve f, which closes the other slot, 1), is

not detachable, but hinged at its inner end,

and held closed by a sliding spring-catch, g, which is applied to the projecting end of the shank or barf, constituting the rearward extension of said valve f.

Upon drawing back the catch 9 it is freed from a lip or flange, l2, and allows the partf f to assume the inclined position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, which favors the examination or treatment of the walls of the passage. One object in thus hinging the valvef is, that when open it serves as a reflector, which renders the contiguous membranous surface more distinctly visible than would be otherwise practicable.

A still more important advantage is attained by this arrangement of the valve, by reason of the fact that it forms an inclined plane upon which such portion of the membrane as projects into the slot may slide easily out of the same while the instrument is being withdrawn. The inner end of the slot is provided with a fixed incline for the same purpose. The edges of both slots are likewise rounded, as shown, to prevent abrasion of the membrane that comes in contact with them.

Still another feature in connection with the slots is important-to wit, they are closedinstead of extending outward through the flange formed around the mouth of the instrument, as in other speculums of this special class, hence the tissue attached to or forming part of the sphincter at the entrance of the passage is supported and prevented from falling into the slot and obstructing the view of the walls of the passage beyond.

By the abovedescribed arrangement of the openings to and I) both sides of the passage may be examined without moving the tube A. The arrangement of the catches enables the valves to be quickly locked in place, so that the instrument may be used with convenience and dispatch.

WVhat I claim is 1. The combination,

with the tubular body of the speculum having the slot b, of the valve f, which is hinged at the inner end of saidslot, inclined position and adapted to assume an Within the speculum, and thus serve as a re flange for locking the plate in place, all as fiector, as shown and described. shown and described.

2. The combination with the slotted tubular body A, having a lip 0r flange, as speci- ELLIS 5 fied, and a valve or plate having a rear ex- \Vitnesses:

tension, of a movable cateh which is attached J OHN MURRAY,

to the latter, and adapted to engage with said J. HENRY SHEPHERD. 

